I read somewhere, some time ago, that RA can steal ten years of your life. I doubt that is still true, if it ever was, I mean how could anyone pinpoint the exact amount of time RA took from you? With new advances in treatment maybe there is no specific loss of days attributed solely to this disease process.
Luckily, I haven’t had to test the waters of the new meds out there. I’m still stuck on my weekly Methotrexate. Nine pills, no more, no less. I want less, but my doc is so very conservative with change. His philosophy is: don’t break what’s not broken, while mine is: let’s take it to the limit, none!
Ah, I can only wish.
But I am holding steady, and that’s nothing to sniff at. One must feel gratitude. And I do, but still, what I read about the ten years pops up in my head every so often. Like yesterday during our appointment with our financial planner.
He knows I want low risk in anything we do. If I was younger, I tell him, perhaps I would go for broke, but I’m not as young as he is. He smiles and then gives me options, perhaps a five-year annuity sounds better than a seven-year one? Yes, five sounds better than seven in this case.
What if in five years I’m sick and need the money and it’s stuck in a seven-year pit where if I take it out I forfeit some?
Then again, what if I’m sick in three years? Two years?
But what if I’m still sailing along on MTX seven years from now?
How can we know? And do we want to know?
I don’t think I do, so I will keep that ten-year thing at the back of my mind. It helps to motivate me to make the most of today. To make the best future plans. Because what if the countdown has started and liftoff is looming? 10 . . . 9 . . . 8 . . .
Beating Rheumatoid Arthritis 
I think RA complicates decisions that come at a certain age anyway. You’re very right in that the statistics for longevity associated with the new biologics is not in yet. There’s an old saying that says to plan for the future but live each day as if its our last. I like this saying because experiences like the one that you and your husband went through remind us that tomorrow is not promised. It’s great to see you posting again! And great that you’re on a steady treatment plan. (That makes me jealous!)
Carla, hi! I hope you are doing much better. I feel for you. Right now, I’m doing a Prednisone challenge for this on-and-off mean shoulder pain. If it gets better, it’s RA. If it doesn’t, it’s something else. I see the doc next week, so I can report the results. So in a way, I lurch from pain to pain. But at least I’m still around to lurch! Stay well!
Irma, when I was diagnosed, I read that I would be disabled in 10 years. I’m still working full time and leading a mostly full life. So I guess the abbreviated lifespan is valid, but suspect. Of course I have read that as well and don’t plan on working all the way to retirement age. I got some living to do…..
How depressing. Glad I never read that! I agree we have to live life to the fullest. We may have to make a pit stop every now and then to let the RA monster on through, but hopefully, fewer and fewer times as life goes on. Stay well!